NDC will continue Fielding its own Candidates, it is not in any Electoral Pact-Kambwili

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January 19, 2020

NDC will continue Fielding its own Candidates, it is not in any Electoral Pact-Kambwili

THE National Democratic Congress (NDC) says it will continue fielding its own candidates for elections because there is no electoral pact with the United Party for National Development (UPND) or any opposition alliance members.

NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili said in an interview NDC as an independent political party would continue fielding its own candidates for elections because it was not in electoral pact with other opposition parties including the UPND. He said the alliance had not reached an agreement on the electoral pact.

“We have not reached an agreement on the electoral pact to discuss electoral matters. What we have is an alliance and the two are totally different,” Mr Kambwili said.

He said alliance members were free to field their own candidates in elections.

Mr Kambwili however said his party was enjoying a cordial relationship with the UPND.

“I have spoken to (Stephen) Katuka who is very close to me and can never say such a thing and I have spoken to HH. He has denied issuing any statement against me,” Mr Kambwili said.

Mr Kambwili said NDC and UPND were enjoying a good relationship because they were in an alliance.

PF has impoverished Zambians while enriching themselves through corruption

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January 19, 2020

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PF has impoverished Zambians while enriching themselves through corruption

The United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema has said that the ruling Patriotic Front(PF) have impoverished Zambians while enriching themselves through corruption.

In a post on his facebook page, the UPND leader said that since 2011, the ruling party never paid attention to the needs of Chiluba Constituency and that the late MP had been always lamenting about the challenges her people were going through in Chilubi Constituency, such as lack of jobs, medical facilities such as ambulance, relief food for the hungry citizens, and now elections in site, the are now bribing voters, as they have always done.

“We have once again seen our colleagues in the PF doing what they are best known for during every election, bribing voters. The PF regime has been in power since 2011, and the late Chilubi Constituency MP Hon. Rosaria Fundanga (MHSRIP) has held the seat since 2016. She was always lamenting about the challenges her people were going through in Chilubi Constituency, such as lack of jobs, medical facilities such as ambulance, relief food for the hungry citizens, but nobody paid attention,” he said in a statement.

“On our part as UPND, we spent most of 2019 demanding for relief food for our hungry citizens, job opportunities, and other long term measures to address poverty in the country, but PF never listened. When we declared hunger as a national disaster and told those holding power to do the same so that we can attract local, regional and international support, this was not only ignored, but we were also threatened with arrest.”

Hichilema said with a by-election in Chilubi Constituency and some wards around the country, those were the places the PF now thinks need urgent relief food, ambulances and other unplanned development projects.

“What message are we sending to the rest of the country where citizens are equally suffering now? Are we not openly implying that our citizens should be praying some misfortune happens to their elected representatives, MPs, mayors, council chairpersons and councillors, so that they can have temporal relief in their livelihoods through handouts?” he asked.

“And this is where we fundamentally differ with our colleagues in the PF. They focus on short term goals while we focus on long term sustainable development for our people. Technically, the PF have impoverished our people while enriching themselves through corruption. Now they take the stolen money and want to pretend they care more by giving short term handouts purely for votes.”

Hichilema said the UPND was comforted that citizens were seeing through PF schemes going by the recent election outcomes where PF pumped lots of money and other gifts, citizens got the items, but voted for the UPND.

UPND Carders’ Behaviour during the Bill 10 Discussion Forum Condemned

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January 19, 2020

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UPND Carders’ Behaviour during the Bill 10 Discussion Forum Condemned

A consortium of civil society organizations have condemned the unruly conduct of UPND carders during a news diggers organized Bill 10 discussion forum Friday last week.

Speaking during a press briefing Sunday morning,Young African Leaders initiative YALI president Andrew Ntewewe who represented the CSOs said the UPND’s conduct threatens the participation of those who hold divergent views in such future activities meant to deepen the country’s democracy.

He noted that the UPND have constantly raised issues of trusting the PF in regards to constitutional issues and questioned who should be trusted between unruly carders at a forum or a well organized and divergent forum such as the NDF.

Mr Ntewewe has since advised news diggers and those sponsoring the forum to put mechanisms to ensure that such fora are not ulitilised as campaign platforms for expression of intolerant behaviour for those with opposing viewpoints.

And Mr Ntewewe has bemoaned the falsehood peddled by lawyer John Sangwa, Linda Kasonde and UPND Members of parliament to discredit bill 10 during the same forum accusing the PF governments as being the ones that generated the content .

He recalled that when UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema lost the 2016 election petitioned the constitutional court, the same unrully UPND carders who today are saying the constitution is ok went ballistic against court judges accusing them of corruption for ruling that the petition could not be heard as the 14 days had elapsed.

“This is the same John Sangwa who abandoned Mr Hichilema and argued that 14 days was not sufficient for the petition to be heard but today has changed and wants the public to believe that he never saw anything wrong with the constitution. Is this not legal hypocrisy from a man with a stature of state counsel?” Mr Ntewewe questioned.

Mr Ntewewe has challenged stakeholders to begin to ask serious questions on when government recieved submissions and how various provisions found themselves in the bill.

“The ones who have let this country down on constitutional making are those are speaking the loudest today against bill 10 because they had an opportunity to make submissions yet the chose not to, they had an opportunity to scrutinize the proposals but shun the process” he said.

Mr ntewewe together with the other CSOs namely common ground network, Zambia institute of governance and civil liberties advocacy platform have since said there is no need to withdraw bill 10 saying it will be expensive to abandon a process further adding that once a bill is withdrawn it can not be brought back in parliament during the same session.

Meanwhile news diggers have distanced themselves from the upnd’s conduct during the forum and advised members wishing to attend such platforms to desist from engaging in partisan politics meant to disrupt the participation of divergent views.

Mr Ntewewe has since challenged members of parliament to sober up and find a common ground to bring amendments to the existing parliamentary procedure.

Freedom Sikazwe says State House is proud of achievements recorded by Zambia High Commission in India

General News

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January 19, 2020

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PRESIDENTIAL Affairs Minister Freedom Sikazwe says State House is proud of achievements recorded by Zambia High Commission in India.

“The last two years saw the President of India Shri Ram Nath Kovind conduct a State Visit to Zambia in April 2018, the first time an Indian President visited Zambia in 30 years,” Mr. Sikazwe said.

He said the Mission made efforts in ensuring a reciprocal State Visit to India by President Edgar Lungu in August 2019, the first time a Zambian President visited India in 16 years.

Mr. Sikazwe was speaking when Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga hosted a dinner in his honour at the Zambian Residence in New Delhi.

“The Mission was instrumental in facilitating the actualization of the Decongestion of Lusaka Roads Project,” Mr. Sikazwe said.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to India Judith Kapijimpanga said trade between Zambia and India increased in 2019 because of President Edgar Lungu’s State Visit to India in August last year where he addressed a Business Forum.

“Indian companies constitute a huge proportion of Zambia’s Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) estimated to be over Five Billion US Dollars while several companies started actualising investment in Zambia among them Mansa Sugar, Anant Overseas, Vagmi Cottons, O.M. Smelters, BSBK, Prasad Seeds, Mylan, KIMS and Apollo,” the High Commissioner said.

Mrs. Kapijimpanga said the Indians were also enchanted by President Lungu’s speech during the Confederation of Indian Industry- CII – India- Southern Africa Regional Conclave in Lusaka, Zambia, in October 2019.

“At least 512 Indians travelled to Zambia for business purposes against 321 that travelled in the year 2018,” she said.

Mrs. Kapijimpanga said trade volume between Zambia and India stood at over One Billion US Dollars as of December 2019 with more interest rising in manganese mining.

This was contained in a statement released by First Secretary Press and Tourism at the Zambian Mission in India, Bangwe Naviley.

ZASA acquires over 150 hectares of land in Zambia for its members living in South Africa

General News

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January 19, 2020

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ZASA acquires over 150 hectares of land in Zambia for its members living in South Africa

The Association of Zambians in South Africa (ZASA) has acquired over one hundred and fifty hectares of land in Zambia for its members living in South Africa.

Association President Ferdinard Simanya says about one million rands has so far been paid towards the purchase of the land located in Livingstone

He mentioned that one hundred and three (103) members have fully paid for different sizes of land which included agricultural, commercial and residential plots.

He said that the initiative was to help Zambians in South Africa.

And Zambia’s High Commissioner to South Africa who is also patron of the Association Major Gen Jackson Miti says the land empowerment program would enable Zambians in the diaspora have access to land for investment in various sectors of the Zambian economy.

He says Zambians in South Africa should make use of the land empowerment program to secure their future once they returned to Zambia.

The High Commissioner described the program as progressive and timely.

He said Zambians in South Africa should take advantage of the diaspora policy which was put in place to easily facilitate for their investment plans in Zambia in order for them to actively participate in the country’s development agenda.

Some government clinics using exercise book pages to wrap medicines

Health

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January 19, 2020

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Some clinics on the Copperbelt are using cuttings from exercise books to package medicine for patients.

Chambishi Government Clinic and Kitwe’s Mindolo One Clinic are some of the facilities lacking the traditional plastics used in packing medicine.

Whilst applauding the initiative taken by the clinics trying to function with minimal government support , a medical official appealed to the clinics to rather make envelopes from those papers.He firmly stated that all medicines should be labelled, with instructions written on the package.

Some members of the public bluntly stated that the PF Government is to blame and wondered how they are managing to fund by elections with huge sums of money but failing to buy simple packaging for medicines.

“These are signs of a broke economy..we are headed for disaster if nothing is done”,they reiterated.

Others wondered where the money being contributed to the National Health Scheme is going.

“I go to the clinic and I’m given medicine on a a piece of paper and yet every month I pay for national health insurance. Where is our money going? Those saying learn to appreciate. Appreciate what? Appreciate that we are contributing money for better health services and yet we keep on receiving very poor services and you say learn to appreciate!”

Source: Radio Chengelo

The current number of constituencies cannot be changed without first amending the Constitution-ECZ

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January 19, 2020

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The current number of constituencies cannot be changed without first amending the Constitution-ECZ

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said that the current number of constituencies cannot be changed without first amending the Constitution.

ECZ acting public relations manager Sylvia Bwalya said proposals to carry out a delimitation exercise can only be effected through amendment of the Constitution.

“In the event that the outcome of the delimitation exercise is to recommend an increase in the number of constituencies, from the current 156, this would require an amendment of Article 68(2) via the Constitutional Amendment Bill

Ms. Bwalya’s sentiments were echoed by ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano who said that the current number of constituencies cannot be changed without amending the constitution because the existing constitution provides the number Constituencies the country should have which is 156, that this was the reason the Commission cannot conduct the delimitation exercise without changes to the Constitution.

He said at the moment ECZ can only recommend an increase in the number of constituencies.

And Government has clarified that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) cannot carry out the delimitation exercise without harmonizing the current constitution.

Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo said that because the current constitution does not provide clauses for the creation of new constituencies.

Mr Kampyongo was reacting to remarks made by UPND-Monze Central Member of Parliament Jack Mwimbu at a public discussion forum where he stated that the ECZ can carry out the delimitation exercise without amending the current constitution.

The Home Affairs Minister has also encouraged Zambians to read public documents to avoid being misled.

Today’s Message: Be on the Lookout

Feature Lifestyle

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January 19, 2020

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Today’s Scripture

“…Every desirable and beneficial gift comes out of heaven. The gifts are rivers of light cascading down from the Father of Light…”
(James 1:17, MSG)

Be on the Lookout

Just like the sun radiates heat, God radiates goodness. It’s not just what He does; it’s who He is. God’s very nature is good. It’s important that we recognize that every good gift comes to us from our Father in heaven, both large and small.

You need to be on the lookout for God’s goodness. Too many times, God is working in our lives, showing us favor, protecting us, sending us healing, but we don’t recognize His goodness. When something good happens, make sure you give Him the credit and thank Him for it. The question is, are you recognizing it? Look around today. Be more aware. Psalm 34:8 says, “Taste and see that the LORD is good.” If you’re going to taste God’s goodness, you have to realize that every good break, every time you were protected, every door that opened, and every advantage you’ve gotten has been God working in your life. Don’t take it for granted.

A Prayer for Today

“Father, thank You that You are constantly working, constantly showing me Your goodness with every good gift that comes into my life. I want to live today with an attitude of thankfulness and gratefulness. I will not take Your goodness for granted. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

Who is Responsible for Paying Salaries for UNZA Lecturers?

Columns

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January 19, 2020

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Who is Responsible for Paying Salaries for UNZA Lecturers?

By Antonio Mwanza

Every time there is a salary delay at UNZA, everyone blames Government. But, is it the responsibility of the Government to pay salaries to UNZA lecturers?

HERE ARE THE FACTS

The University of Zambia, just like any other university in Zambia is established by the Higher Education Authority Act.

According to the Act, it is the duty of the University Council and NOT Government to pay salaries and emoluments to all university employees, lecturers inclusive.

The government’s responsibility is to provide a grant to the university which is appropriated by Parliament. It is up to the University Council to decide how that grant must be used.

The Act clearly explains whose responsibility it is to fundraise and pay salaries to UNZA employees and I quote:

“Financial Provisions

(1) The funds of a public higher education institution shall consist of such money as may— (a) be appropriated by Parliament for its purpose; (b) be paid to the public higher education institution by way of fees, subscriptions, contributions, grants or donations; and (c) otherwise vest in, or accrue to, the public higher education institution.

(2) A public higher education institution may, with the approval of the Minister, accept money by way of grants or donations from any source in or outside Zambia.

(3) A public higher education institution may borrow, by way of loan or otherwise, such sums as it may require for meeting its obligations and discharging its functions under this Act

(4) There shall be paid from the funds of a public higher education institution—(a) money necessary for the performance of its functions under this Act; (b) the salaries, allowances, and loans for its employees.

(6) A public higher education institution may, with the approval of the Minister, invest in such manner as it may determine, any of its funds which it does not immediately require for the performance of its functions.”

THIS IS THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN GIVING TO UNZA

The government gives UNZA K34 MILLION every month as a grant.
The government gives UNZA K12 MILLION every year for Research and Development.
The government gives UNZA K5 MILLION every year to pay retirees
The government has approved a loan of K200 MILLION for UNZA to clear all its retirees who retired from 2011 to 2017.

APART FROM GOVERNMENT FINANCING, WHAT OTHER FINANCIAL STREAMS DOES UNZA HAVE

UNZA has the largest number of students than any other higher learning institution in this country. Even when you remove the number of students on Government sponsorship, still the number of students on self sponsorship at UNZA far out-number the number of students at any other university or college in this country. Besides UNZA is amongst the most expensive schools in Zambia, meaning that UNZA is making a killing out of Tuition and Examinations Fees alone that they are charging students.

UNZA has largely three streams of students:

a) Regular students
b) Distance Students and
c) Parallel Students, of course, we may include the Part-Time ones.

UNZA has land, farms, nurseries as well as a human resource which it can use as sources of additional revenue.

How much is UNZA getting from Tuition and Examination Fees, East Park Mall, Liempe Farms, UNZA nursery, and all other farms and properties that it has?

I won’t go into the details of how UNZA is being managed or is it mismanaged. For now, I will end here.

The Author is Antonio Mwanza, former member of the University of Zambia Council and former President of the University of Zambia Students Union (UNZASU)

Never again will people with Money Ever Try to buy off MMD-Nevers Mumba

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January 19, 2020

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Never again will people with Money Ever Try to buy off MMD-Nevers Mumba

Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) Party President Dr. Nevers Mumba said the MMD belongs to its members and not former members.

Speaking when he received the petition from the Lusaka Provincial leadership to conduct a citizen’s arrest on Patriotic Front (PF) Nominated Member of Parliament Raphael Nakachinda, Dr Mumba said that never again will people who have money ever try to buy the MMD.

“As your Party President, I am overwhelmed with your resolve to defend our party from former members. MMD is your party and it’s your Political right to defend and fight for it. It is for this reason your leadership was in Court for over 3 years to defend what is rightfully yours. Never again will person’s who have money ever try to buy off the MMD”, Dr. Mumba said.

The MMD in Lusaka Province yesterday vowed to carry out a citizen arrest on Patriotic Front (PF) Nominated Member of Parliament Mr. Raphael Nakachinda.

The members through their Provincial Leadership petitioned their Party’s National Leadership to allow them to sort out Patriotic Front (PF) Nominated Member of Parliament Raphael Nakachinda.

Speaking through the Provincial Chairperson Mr. Francis Chate, they wondered why the Police have not arrested him yet.

“We the MMD in Lusaka Province are shocked that the Zambia Police Service have continued giving Raphael Nakachinda permits to hold illegal MMD meetings. What is hurting us the most is that the Police enforces Court Orders, but the Judge Sharon Newa November 5 MMD Judgement has not been enforced by our Police. The Register of Societies has already followed Judge Newa’s directives. What Nakachinda has been doing of claiming to be our National Secretary, when the courts have ruled that he is neither National Secretary nor is he a member of the Party is impersonation and contempt of Court. Instead of giving him permits, the police should instead arrest him”, Mr. Chate said.

Mr. Chate further said that the Party in Lusaka will conduct a citizen’s arrest on Nakachinda.

“We the New Hope MMD in Lusaka Province are today petitioning the National leadership to allow us to sort out Raphael Nakachinda. Who is Nakachinda to try to hijack the Party? We are demanding that you take immediate action on Nakachinda or we the Party in Lusaka Province will take the law in our own hands by fetching him out from wherever he is hiding in kafue. Since the Police have failed to arrest him. We will do them a favor by doing a citizens arrest on him. Let him just try to hold another illegal MMD meeting again”, Mr. Chate said.

In receiving the Petitions MMD National Secretary Hon. Elizabeth Chitika said that the party will soon commence legal proceedings against him.

“As the Chief Executive Officer of the Party, I would love to thank you for presenting this petition to Us. As your leadership, we have directed the Party’s Lawyers to commence legal proceedings against Nakachinda. The MMD is bigger than any individual especially non-individuals like Nakachinda”, Hon. Chitika said.

MMD Vice President Mr. Reuben Sambo said that the Train Of New Hope has started off and No one can stop it.

“As your Vice President, I would love to send a statement to well-known enemies of our Party who are busy supporting former members like Nakachinda to cause confusion in our Party that the Train of New Hope has started moving and anyone who tries to get in its way, will be crashed”, Mr. Sambo said.

Green Eagles Go Three points Clear, Nkana Escape at GBFC

sports

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January 18, 2020

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Green Eagles stayed in command of the FAZ Super Division for a second successive week following Saturday’s away victory at 8th placed Kobe Warriors.

1-0 it ended at Godfrey “Ucar” Chitalu Stadium in Kabwe to see Eagles rise to 36 points after 18 games played.

Spencer Sautu’s 70th minute goal kept Eagles at the summit for another week with Zesco United’s best hope on Sunday away game Zanaco now third place if they can grab the three points against the latter.

Zesco are fourth with 31.

Napsa return to second place from third on 35 points following a resounding 4-0 home win over second from bottom Mufulira Wanderers at National Heroes Stadium in Lusaka.

Striker Tapson Kaseba, who has joined Napsa on loan from Eagles, made a dream debut with a brace 30th and stoppage time after Collins Sikombe had put the Lusaka club ahead in the 18th minute.

Doisy Soko continued his promising form in his debut season for Napsa with the third goal in the 38th minute taking his tally to three goals this season.

Meanwhile, Nkana are third after a great escape in Lusaka where the finished 2-2 away against mid-table Green Buffaloes in the late kickoff at Heroes Stadium.

The result saw Nkana make a marginal recovery after losing 2-1 away to Zanaco last Wednesday.

Martin Dzilah put Nkana ahead in the 12th minute from the penalty spot to see them go 1-0 into the break.

But a 47th minute own-goal by defender Moses Nyondo put Buffaloes back in the game and Friday Samu gave the host the lead in the 67th minute.

It took a Richard Ocran header from Chisamba Lungu’s corner in stoppage time for Nkana to head back to Kitwe with a point after their two-match league tour of Lusaka this week.

WEEK 18 Results and Fixtures
18/01/2020
Napsa Stars 4-Mufulira Wanderers 0
Green Buffaloes 2-Nkana 2
Forest Rangers 2-Nkwazi 2
Buildcon 1-KYSA 0
Power Dynamos 0-Kansanshi Dynamos 0
Kabwe Warriors-Green Eagles
Lumwana Radiants 0-Lusaka Dynamos 1
Nakambala Leopards 1-Red Arrows 2
19/01/2020
Zanaco-Zesco United

Shepolopolo U20 Suffer World Cup Qualifier Setback

sports

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January 18, 2020

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Shepolopolo Zambia U20 on Saturday started the 2020 FIFA Under-20 Women World Cup qualifying campaign with a 2-0 home loss to South Africa at Nkoloma Stadium in Lusaka.

South Africa silenced Zambia with first half goals in this first leg match of the preliminary round.

Chelsea Daniels and Shamase scored the goals in the 8th and 38th minutes respectively.

The two teams will meet in the return leg on the weekend of January 31 and February 2 in South Africa.

Overall winners will take on Namibia or Botswana in the next round.[contact-form][contact-field label=”Name” type=”name” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Email” type=”email” required=”true” /][contact-field label=”Website” type=”url” /][contact-field label=”Message” type=”textarea” /][/contact-form]

Zesco United’s Character in The Dock After Winless Run

sports

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January 18, 2020

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Defending champions Zesco United attempt to snap-out of a three-match losing run in all competition when they visit Zanaco this Sunday at Sunset Stadium in Lusaka.

Zesco head into the match after losing two league matches by similar 1-0 score line’s to Forest Rangers at home and Nkwazi away that they sandwiched with 2-0 away loss in the CAF Champions League at Zamalek in Egypt on January 10.

The two league defeats left Zesco fourth on 31 points, two behind Green Eagles and Nkana who were first and second prior to Saturday’s Week 18 kickoffs.

“These are champions, they have been in this situation before,” Lwandamina said.

“I am sure they are trying and you can see it physiologically in their faces that they want to get the best results out of these games.

“But football being what it is, we are still finding ourselves in the same predicament.

“But we are not losing hope, we are playing well and if you even see the margins of loses are 1-0, so they will overcome it, they have the knack to overcome it.

“Players understand that we are the team to beat but they know it will come to pass.”

Also of concern is the form of this seasons league top scorer Jesse Were who last found the target for Zesco on November 2 in a 2-0 away win over Red Arrows in Lusaka when he scored a brace in that match.

Zesco also face a Zanaco side that seems to have rediscovered its stride after a nine -match winless run in all competition.
Zanaco are now unbeaten with two successive wins in as many games in charge under new coach Chris Kaunda.

One of those wins was a key 2-1 home league victory over Nkana last Wednesday.

And Zanaco head into the match seeking revenge against Zesco who beat them 1-0 away in the first leg on August 31 in Ndola.

Napsa Stars sign Tapson Kaseba

sports

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January 18, 2020

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Napsa Stars have confirmed the signing of Green Eagles striker Tapson Kaseba.

Kaseba joined Napsa on a one-year loan deal from the Choma club.

The striker was earlier linked with a move to Buildcon.

Kaseba is one of two signings by the Lusaka side who include midfielder Daniel Adoko who joins from town mates Red Arrows on a permanent deal.

“As a club we are excited that the players have joined us. We have confidence that they will add value to the club,” Napsa Stars board chairperson Greg Chola Nsofu said.

The duo is expected to make their debut in this afternoons home game against Mufulira Wanderers that has been moved from Edwin Emboela Stadium to National Heroes Stadium at 16h00 due to poor pitch conditions after heavy rains.

Makoye Bridge In Monze Washed Away By Flash Floods

Rural News

Chief Editor

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January 18, 2020

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Government officials in Monze District have confirmed the washing away of the bridge at Makoye which connects Chikuni Mission and surrounding villages to Chisekese.

Monze Town Council Secretary Beson Bweenje and District Commission Cyprian Hamayanga on Thursday went on site to check the extent of the damage which was caused by high volumes of water caused by flash floods that has hit some parts of the district.

Speaking on site MTC Secretary Benson Bweenje said his office was informed of the unfortunate development onThursday morning and that he sent the director of works to do on the spot investigations before he visited the site together with the District Commissioner and some officers.

He said preliminary investigations indicate that the damage was caused by a combination of factors which included Soil erosion and the blockages to the culvertes by silts and logs forcing the water away from the stream among other things.

“It’s true the bridge has been washed out and we attribute the washing away to the higher volumes of water and also the erosion which has taken place. The director of works came in the morning and according to the statement he can not do a conclusive report because the damage is still accumulating. As you can see even where we are standing it shows that the damage is still accumulating. The tree near by is almost falling so by tomorrow we expect some different levels of damages,” he said.

Meanwhile District Commission Cyprian Hamayanga advised residents of Chikuni and surrounding areas to use the Gwembe road which is the alternative route taking them to their destination in Chikuni.

“I can only advice our people in this area to use the alternative route which is the Gwembe road then branch off at Chisuwo school. This is a short cut but for now it is not to be used. I will inform the relevant ministries to expedite the process of ensuring that the bridge is repaired in no time,” he said.

Officers from works department will on Friday carry out further assessment of the extent of the damage.

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